Piano care
Ref. 04
Looking after a piano between visits.
Most tuning problems start in the room, not the piano. A few simple habits keep it stable for longer.
The one number that matters
40–50 %
Relative humidity is what moves a soundboard. Keep it steady between 40 and 50 percent and the tuning will hold far longer.
IDEAL
20 %
35
40
50
60
80 %
Below 35 %: soundboard shrinks, pins loosen, pitch drops
40–50 %: stable tuning, healthy wood
35–40 % or 50–60 %: monitor, adjust heating
Above 60 %: sticking keys, rusting strings
Where it lives
Placement, in plain terms.
Do
Keep it on an inside wall
Use a room with steady heating
Leave 10 cm behind an upright
Close the lid when not in use
Dust keys with a dry cloth
Avoid
Direct sun or radiators
Draughty windows and doors
Underfloor heating beneath it
Plants or drinks on the lid
Household polish on keys
How often
Tuning frequency by use
Concert & recording
Before every performance
Pitch must hold under bright lights and long sessions.
Teaching studio
3–4 times a year
Hours of daily playing wear the unisons out fastest.
Played daily at home
Twice a year
Spring and autumn, when the heating changes.
Played occasionally
Once a year
Even unplayed pianos drift with the seasons.
Call us when
Five signs your piano needs a visit.
1
Octaves sound wavy or sour
2
A key stays down or repeats slowly
3
Buzzing or rattling on certain notes
4
Pedals squeak or stop sustaining evenly
5
It’s been more than a year
Hearing one of these? Book a visit.
Book a tuning